Laterally swingable flush valve



Aug 29, 1950 l H. F. SMITH 2,520,574-

LATERALLY SWINGABLE FLUSH VALVE Filed NOV. 4, 1948 f' @ag/gli? INVENTOR. HA FPY FOPP SN/T/' TO NEYS Patented ug. 29, 1950 unirte STA-res een aus. L

titans;

This invention relates generallyto- Valves for flush tanksandpa-rticularly to a new vertically liftable, laterally swingable overflow pipe and ush valve.

Valves of thef vertically lit-table, laterally s wingable type whichl havel devised heretofore have embodiedseveralparts which- Inow iind it possible to eliminate. The present,- invention provides va new andsimpmiedl combination of parts and aiordsanew modeof opera-tion. This new combinationof parts includes an ovei'ow pipe which is' supported- ,atf its: upper endgpfor ad.- justable lateralswinging movementof; its lower end, a valveon the pipe near its lower endia delector at the lower end off the pipe, stopineans intermediate thek ends of the pipetoengage-the adjacent vertical wal-lofthe tanky andxhold the valve in open position-when water; is flowing out of the tank andmeans to guide the' valve to its seat.

One embodiment` of the present invention is disclosedin thedrawingswhich' accompany and form a part of this-specificationandin which,`

Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofthe-newush valve assembly, the flush tank being show-n'fragrnentarly.

Figs. 3 and 4 are', respectively, sideand fae elevational views o-f one ofthe friction pads; and

Fig. 5 shows Aa-modiiled form ot the-upperend mounting-of the overiow, p ipe of Figsgl and 2.

In the igures|- the tank I is-providedwith 4aijl outlet opening in its bottonwall invwhich is disposed a rubber-like-ennulus 2 having e Curved valve'seat 3 at its upper en d to makesealing conf tact with a-cup-likeiconic'al valve 4 carried on an overflowpipe- E-near its lowerend.

The lower end of the overilowpipe is inclined at an acute angle to the horizontahasis in; dicated-'at 6, and at-its lowermost end y the pipe wall is bentY outwardly to form a deiiectcr l against which water iiowing-out of the tank may engage'for a purpose presently to appear A guide 8 inthe form vof a narrow metal-strip is connected atitsglowerend tof deflector 'l and extends upwardly past the` lowerend of pipe 5 to rest on seat 3 when the valve isopen and to guide thepipe intovalve seating position when the valve is being closed.

A horizontally extending ush; lever it is positioried-within the-tank` I and at one end lis to extend through afside wall of th"e tank in which it is? mounted' for rotation.`

Thus the pressure oi thepads on the'l all vaieswitth torti-applied `1 atefiallj(i tb'Vtl bythe streamer we an 'fhjence tn ejpa s nd theY pipe'iri its elevated position while iiistpf the water in the tai 1 k is running out but"doe`s `not prevent the pipe; from in oving downwar'dfwhen -flo h X'- When the adjusting nut is moved far to the right on the screw I3 then when the pipe 5 is lifted the lower end, including the vane 1, can swing only a little way toward the right and the vane is held in the heaviest flow of water through the opening leading to the bowl, and as a consequence the smallest flow and lowest water level suflices to hold the valve open. Contrawise when the nut I5 is moved to the left on the screw, the lower end of the pipe can swing far to the right, and the vane 'I is withdrawn from the heaviest stream iiow and a heavier flow of water and consequent higher level in the tank exists at time of closing. lSince the velocity of water outiiow is a function of the depth of water in the tank, it follows that the height of the surface level when the valve closes can be controlled by adjustment of nut I5 on screw I3.

In Fig. 5, the general construction is quite like that shown in Figs.Y l to 4, the main difference being that the means for lifting the pipe 5 is attached xedly to the wire 20 and is freely slidable in the lever` I0. In this case the screw I3a extends through but is secured to the loop 2l in wire 2t and the shank of the screw is freely slidable in a hole in lever IIJ. A nut I5a is adjustably located on the shank of the screw outside of lever I to limit the movement of screw I3a in lever ID. Adjustment of nut Ia on screw I3a controls the level of water in the tank when the valve closes in the manner above described with respect to screw I3 and nut I5.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and described hereinabove is substantially as follows; Starting with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 and with water filling the tank up to the level indicated at A, the handle I I is pushed down thereby lifting up the free end of lever I0. This lifting movement of lever Ii) lifts pipe 5 and valve 4 vertically and permits water to flow through the opening in annulus 2. Some of this outflowing water engages defiector I and exerts a force on the pipe tending to move the lower end laterally. Such lateral movement brings the friction pads 22 into contact with the adjacent vertical surface of tank I. The parts remain in this open position so long as the force of the water against the deilector 'I plus the frictional contact of the pads and tank wall are sufficient to hold the pipe in its actuated position. When water has run out of tank I to the extent determined by the position of nut I5 on screw I3, the force exerted by the water and tending to maintain the valve in open position decreases to such an extent that the force of gravity tends to restore the parts to their original position. At such time pipe 5 is guided downwardly and laterally by guide 8 and valve 4 seats on annulus 2. During this movement the friction pads 22 are moved away from the tank Wall. The parts are then in position for retaining Water in the tank until it has reached the desired level.

The operation of the apparatus of Fig. 5 is substantially the same as that just described with reference to the apparatus of Figs. l to 4 inclusive.

Having thus described my invention so that others skilled in the art may be able to practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flush tank having an outlet opening, a ush valve lever freely swingable in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizon- CII tal plane, an overflow pipe connected at its upper end to said lever for vertical lifting movement and lateral swinging movement of its lower end, a valve around the pipe near its lower end, a delector extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe and into a stream of water flowing through said outlet opening, a member connected to the pipe near its upper end and having portions projecting downwardly and laterally toward an adjacent vertical wall of the tank, and wall-engaging friction members at the lower ends of said portions.

2. In a flush tank having an outlet opening, a flush valve lever freely swingable in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizontal plane, an overflow pipe connected at its upper end to said lever for vertical lifting movement and lateral swinging movement of its lower end, a valve around the pipe near its lower end, a deiiector extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe and into a stream of water owing through said outlet opening, an inverted V- shaped member connected-to the pipe near its upper end and having legs projecting downwardly and laterally toward an adjacent vertical wall of the tank and diverging from each other and from the pipe, and wall-engaging friction members at the lower ends of said legs engageable with said wall when the pipe is lifted and swung laterally at its lower end.

3. In a ilush tank having an outlet opening provided with a valve seat, a flush valve lever freely swingable in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizontal plane, an overflow pipe extending into said opening and connected at its upper end to said lever for vertical movement and lateral swinging movement of its lower end, a cup shaped valve on said pipe to rest on said seat, a deflector extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe and into a stream of water flowing through said outlet opening, a member connected to the pipe near its end and having portions projecting downwardly and laterally toward an adjacent vertical wall of the tank, friction rubber pads at the lower ends of said portions engageable with said wall when the pipe is lifted vertically and shifted laterally, and slime retarding metallic inserts in said pads.

4. In a flush tank having an outlet opening provided with a valve seat, a flush valve lever freely swingable about one end in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizontal plane, an overflow Vpipe connected at its upper end to said lever for vertical movement and lateral swinging movement of its lower end, adjustable means engaging and laterally positioning the upper end of said pipe, a valve carried by the overflow pipe near its lower end to rest on said seat, a, defiector extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe below said valve and into a stream of water flowing out of the tank when the valve is open, and means between the ends of said pipe and connected to the pipe to engage frictionally a vertical wall of the tank when the vertically elevated pipe is moved laterally by water iiowing out of the tank.

5. In a flush tank having an outlet opening provided with a valve seat, a flush valve lever freely swingable about one end in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizontal plane, an overflow pipe, means connecting said pipe at its upper end to said lever for adjustable positioning relative to said lever and for lateral swinging movement of its lower end, a valve on the overflow pipe near its lower end to rest on said seat, a deilector extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe below said valve and into a stream of water owing out of the tank when the valve is open, and means connected to the pipe and offset laterally therefrom to engage frictionally with a vertical wall of the tank torestrain downward movement of the pipe and valve when the pipe has been lifted and swung laterally toward said wall.

6. In a flush tank having an outlet opening provided with a valve seat, a ush valve lever freely swingable about one end in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizontal plane, an overflow pipe connected at its upper end to said lever for vertical movement and for lateral swinging movement of its lower end, a valve on the overow pipe near its lower end to rest on said seat, a deilector extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe below said valve and into a stream of water flowing out of the tank when the valve is open, a guide extending upwardly past the lower end of said cup to beyond the side opposite said projection to direct said valve onto said seat, and means connected to the pipe and oiset laterally therefrom to engage frictionally with a vertical wall of the tank to restrain downward movement of the pipe and valve when the pipe has been lifted and swung laterally toward said wall.

7. In a ilush tank having an outlet opening provided with a valve seat, a iiush valve lever freely swingable about one end in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizontal plane, a member projecting horizontally through and fixed to said lever near its free end, an overflow pipe connected at its upper end to said member for vertical movement and for lateral swinging movement of its lower end, an adjustable stop on said member to position the pipe relative to said lever, a cup valve on the overflow pipe near its lower end to rest on said seat, a deector extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe below said valve and into a stream of water lio-wing out of the tank when the valve is open, and means connected to the pipe and frictionally engageable with an internal wall surface of the tank to restrain downward movement of the pipe and valve when the pipe has been lifted and swung laterally toward said wall.

8. In a ush tank having an outlet opening provided with a valve seat, a flush valve lever freely swingable about one end in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizontal plane, a member projecting horizontally and freely through said lever near its free end, an overflow pipe connected at its upper end to said member for vertical lifting movement and for lateral swinging movement of its lower end, an adjustable stop on the free end of said member to limit the extent of its movement through said lever, a cup valve on the overflow lpipe near its lower end to rest on said seat, a deflector extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe below said valve and into a stream of water owing out of the tank when the valve is open, and means connected to the pipe and frictionally engageable with an internal surface of the tank to restrain downward movement of the pipe and valve when the pipe has been lifted and swung laterally toward said wall.

9. In a flush tank having an outlet opening, a flush valve lever freely swingable in a vertical plane and substantially immovable in a horizontal plane, an overflow pipe carrying a valve to close said opening, means connecting the lever to the upper end of said pipe for Vertical lifting movement and lateral swinging movement of its lower end, a deflecto-r extending downwardly and laterally from said pipe and into a stream of water owing through said outlet opening, and means for controlling the surface level of water in the tank when the valve moves to close said outlet, said means including a deflector at the lower end of said pipe positioned to be contacted by water flowing through said outlet opening, means on the pipe frlctionally engaging an adjacent wall of the tank when the valve is in open position and an adjustable stop on the pipe liftn ing means controlling the distance between the pipe and lever.

HARRY FORD SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Smith July 13, 1948 Number 

